22 research outputs found
Compliance of agrochemical marketers with banned cocoa pesticides in southwest Nigeria
This study investigated the compliance of marketers of
agrochemicals with the approved and banned cocoa pesticides in selected cocoa
producing states of southwest Nigeria. Primary data was collected through the use
of structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected agrochemical
marketers. All the marketers (100%) were aware of the recently banned cocoa
pesticides, however, majority still have the pesticides in stock. About 70.6% of the
marketers in Osun state and 58.8% in Ogun state stated that they did not receive
information on the banned pesticides from government agencies but through other
channels. More than half of the marketers (52.9% in Ogun, 55% in Kwara and
47.1% in Osun) strongly disagreed that government should place a ban on
pesticides. Availability of banned pesticides in their stock, insufficient information
from the concerned government agricultural agencies, and fear of short supply of
approved pesticides are among the reasons proffered by the marketers for not
supporting the ban of pesticides. Relevant government regulatory agencies should
conduct a comprehensive inventory of pesticides offered for sale by the marketers
of agrochemicals. There should be massive public awareness programme, and wellcoordinated
association for all the marketers of agrochemicals. Agrochemical
manufacturers should translate instructions and warnings on pesticide labels to
local languages understood by the farmers.U ovom radu je istraživana usaglašenost prodavaca agrohemikalija sa
odobrenim i zabranjenim pesticidima koji se koriste u državama jugozapadne
Nigerije koje prizvode kakao. Primarni podaci su prikupljeni pomoću struktuiranog
upitnika koji je podeljen slučajno odabranim prodavcima agrohemikalija. Svi
prodavci (100%) su bili upoznati sa nedavno zabranjenim pesticidima za kakao, ali
ipak većina njih i dalje ima te pesticide u ponudi. Oko 70,6% prodavaca u državi
Osun i 58,8% u državi Ogun je navelo da nisu dobili nikakvu informaciju u vezi sa
zabranjenim pesticidima od vladinih agencija, već putem drugih kanala. Više od
polovine prodavaca (52,9% u državi Ogun, 55% u državi Kwara i 47,1% u državi
Osun) se oštro usprotivila tome da vlada treba da stavi zabranu na pesticide.
Dostupnost zabranjenih pesticida u skladištima, nedovoljno informacija od
odgovarajućih vladinih agencija za poljoprivredu, kao i strah od nestašice
odobrenih pesticida su među razlozima za nepodržavanje zabrane korišćenja
pesticida koje su naveli prodavci. Relevantne vladine regulacione agencije treba da
sastave svebuhvatan spisak pesticida koje prodaju prodavci agrohemikalijama.
Takođe bi trebalo obezbediti i program o javnoj svesti, kao i dobro koordinisano
udruženje za sve prodavce agrohemikalija. Proizvođači agrohemikalija bi trebalo
da prevedu uputstva i upozorenja na etiketama koje se nalaze na ambalažama
pesticida na lokalne jezike koje poljoprivrednici razumeju.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=AGShb201
A farm-level evaluation of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use and planting density for pearl millet production in Niger
Mineral fertilizer use is increasing in West Africa though little information is available on yield response in farmers' fields. Farmers in this region plant at low density (average 5,000 pockets ha−1, 3 plants pocket−1), which can affect fertilizer use efficiency. A study was conducted with 20 farmers in Niger to assess the response of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] to phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers under farm conditions. In each field, treatments included control, single superphosphate (SSP) only, SSP plus N (point placed near plant), and either SSP or partially acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR) plus N broadcast. N and P were applied at 30 kg N ha−1 and 30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Farmers were allowed to plant, weed, etc., as they wished and they planted at densities ranging from 2,000 to 12,000 pockets ha−1. In the absence of fertilizer, increasing density from 2,000 to 7,000 pockets ha−1 increased yield by 400%. A strong interaction was found between fertilizer use and density. Farmers planting at densities less than 3,500 pockets ha−1 had average yields of 317 kg grain ha−1 while those planting at densities higher than 6,500 pockets ha−1 showed average yields of 977 grain ha−1. Though phosphate alone increased yields significantly at all densities, little response to fertilizer N was found at densities below 6,000 pockets ha−1. Significant residual responses in 1987 and 1988 were found to P applied in high-density plots in 1986. Depending on fertilizer and grain prices, analysis showed that fertilizer use must be be combined with high plant density (10,000 pockets ha−1) or no economic benefit from fertilizer use will be realize
Agronomic evaluation of two unacidulated and partially acidulated phosphate rocks indigenous to Niger
A field study was conducted on a sandy soil in Niger to evaluate the agronomic effectiveness of various P fertilizers for millet production during 1985 to 1987. The P fertilizers tested were two finely ground phosphate rocks (PR) indigenous to Niger (Tahoua and Parc W rocks), PR partially acidulated with H2SO4 at 50% acidulation level (PAPR), single superphosphate (SSP), and triple superphosphate (TSP). In 1985, application rates were 0, 6.5, 13.0, and 19.5 kg P ha−1 for each of the P fertilizers. In 1986, half of the plots received the same rates of P as in 1985 and half of the plots received no additional P. In 1987, P additions were repeated only in half of the plots that received P during 1986. A significant (P = 0.05) millet response to P was observed in all the trials. The major findings of this study were: (i) finely ground Tahoua PR was more effective than Parc W PR because of its higher reactivity and was 82 to 91% as effective as SSP for millet production in both the initial and two subsequent seasons; (ii) partial acidulation of Parc W PR can significantly increase its agronomic effectiveness in the first year, but not in terms of residual effect; (iii) partial acidulation was not a desirable technology for increasing the effectiveness of Tahoua PR, because its high Fe2O3 plus Al2O3 content resulted in a product containing relatively low amounts of water-soluble P; and (iv) over a period of 3 yr, one initial application of a large dose of P fertilizer was found to be more effective than three small annual applications in terms of total grain productio
Role of manures and crop residue in alleviating soil fertility constraints to crop production: With special reference to the Sahelian and Sudanian zones of West Africa
A farm-level evaluation of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer use and planting density for pearl millet production in Niger
Integrated soil fertility management. Operational definition and consequences for implementation and dissemination
Traditional farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa depend primarily on mining soil nutrients. The African green revolution aims to intensify agriculture through the dissemination of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). This paper develops a robust and operational definition of ISFM based on detailed knowledge of African farming systems and their inherent variability and of the optimal use of nutrients. The authors define ISFM as a set of soil fertility management practices that necessarily include the use of fertilizer, organic inputs and improved germ plasm, combined with the knowledge on how to adapt these practices to local conditions, aimed at maximizing agronomic use efficiency of the applied nutrients and improving crop productivity. All inputs need to be managed in accordance with sound agronomic principles. The integration of ISFM practices into farming systems is illustrated with the dual-purpose grain legume-maize rotations in the savannas and fertilizer micro-dosing in the Sahel. Finally, the dissemination of ISFM practices is discussed.status: publishe
Integrated soil fertility management: Operational definition and consequences for implementation and dissemination
Traditional farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa depend primarily on mining soil nutrients. The African green revolution aims to intensify agriculture through the dissemination of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). This paper develops a robust and operational definition of ISFM based on detailed knowledge of African farming systems and their inherent variability and of the optimal use of nutrients. The authors define ISFM as a set of soil fertility management practices that necessarily include the use of fertilizer, organic inputs and improved germplasm, combined with the knowledge on how to adapt these practices to local conditions, aimed at maximizing agronomic use efficiency of the applied nutrients and improving crop productivity. All inputs need to be managed in accordance with sound agronomic principles. The integration of ISFM practices into farming systems is illustrated with the dual-purpose grain legume-maize rotations in the savannas and fertilizer micro-dosing in the Sahel. Finally, the dissemination of ISFM practices is discusse